Crystal growing apparatus - An object of the invention is to carry out the flux method with improved work efficiency while maintaining the purity of flux at high level and saving flux material cost. The sodium-purifying apparatus includes a sodium-holding-and-management apparatus for maintaining purified sodium (Na) in a liquid state. Liquid sodium is supplied into a sodium-holding-and-management apparatus through a liquid-sodium supply piping maintained at 100° C. to 200° C. The sodium-holding-and-management apparatus further has an argon-gas-purifying apparatus for controlling the condition of argon (Ar) gas that fills the internal space thereof. Thus, by opening and closing a faucet at desired timing, purified liquid sodium (Na) supplied from the sodium-purifying apparatus can be introduced into a crucible as appropriate via the liquid-sodium supply piping, the sodium-holding-and-management apparatus, and the piping.

09-18-2008

20080271665

Method for producing group III Nitride-based compound semiconductor - In the production of GaN through the flux method, deposition of miscellaneous crystals on the nitrogen-face of a GaN self-standing substrate and waste of raw materials are prevented. Four arrangements of crucibles and a GaN self-standing substrate are exemplified. In FIG.

11-06-2008

20080283968

Group III-Nitride Semiconductor Crystal and Manufacturing Method Thereof, and Group III-Nitride Semiconductor Device - A method of manufacturing group III-nitride semiconductor crystal includes the steps of accommodating an alloy containing at least a group III-metal element and an alkali metal element in a reactor, introducing a nitrogen-containing substance in the reactor, dissolving the nitrogen-containing substance in an alloy melt in which the alloy has been melted, and growing group III-nitride semiconductor crystal is provided. The group III-nitride semiconductor crystal attaining a small absorption coefficient and an efficient method of manufacturing the same, as well as a group III-nitride semiconductor device attaining high light emission intensity can thus be provided.

Production Methods of Semiconductor Crystal and Semiconductor Substrate - To provide a semiconductor substrate of high quality suitable for fabricating an electronic device or an optical device. The present invention provides a method for producing a semiconductor substrate for an electronic device or an optical device, the method including reacting nitrogen (N) with gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), or indium (In), which are group III elements, in a flux mixture containing a plurality of metal elements selected from among alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, to thereby grow a group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal. The group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal is grown while the flux mixture and the group III element are mixed under stirring. At least a portion of a base substrate on which the group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal is grown is formed of a flux-soluble material, and the flux-soluble material is dissolved in the flux mixture, at a temperature near the growth temperature of the group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal, during the course of growth of the semiconductor crystal or after completion of growth of the semiconductor crystal.

N-type group III nitride-based compound semiconductor and production method therefor - An object of the present invention is to realize, by the flux process, the production of a high-quality n-type semiconductor crystal having high concentration of electrons. The method of the invention for producing an n-type Group III nitride-based compound semiconductor by the flux process, the method including preparing a melt by melting at least a Group III element by use of a flux; supplying a nitrogen-containing gas to the melt; and growing an n-type Group III nitride-based compound semiconductor crystal on a seed crystal from the melt. In the method, carbon and germanium are dissolved in the melt, and germanium is incorporated as a donor into the semiconductor crystal, to thereby produce an n-type semiconductor crystal.

12-03-2009

20100078606

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING GROUP III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL, AND GROUP-III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL - A method for producing a high-quality group-III element nitride crystal at a high crystal growth rate, and a group-III element nitride crystal are provided. The method includes the steps of placing a group-III element, an alkali metal, and a seed crystal of group-III element nitride in a crystal growth vessel, pressurizing and heating the crystal growth vessel in an atmosphere of nitrogen-containing gas, and causing the group-III element and nitrogen to react with each other in a melt of the group-III element, the alkali metal and the nitrogen so that a group-III element nitride crystal is grown using the seed crystal as a nucleus. A hydrocarbon having a boiling point higher than the melting point of the alkali metal is added before the pressurization and heating of the crystal growth vessel.

Method for producing group III nitride semiconductor - An object of the present invention is to effectively add Ge in the production of GaN through the Na flux method. In a crucible, a seed crystal substrate is placed such that one end of the substrate remains on the support base, whereby the seed crystal substrate remains tilted with respect to the bottom surface of the crucible, and gallium solid and germanium solid are placed in the space between the seed crystal substrate and the bottom surface of the crucible. Then, sodium solid is placed on the seed crystal substrate. Through employment of this arrangement, when a GaN crystal is grown on the seed crystal substrate through the Na flux method, germanium is dissolved in molten gallium before formation of a sodium-germanium alloy. Thus, the GaN crystal can be effectively doped with Ge.

09-30-2010

20100262639

DIGITAL DATA PROCESSOR - A digital data processor which receives an N-bit input signal from a data source and converts the N-bit input signal into an M-bit output signal, the M-bit being larger than the N-bit. The digital data processor includes: an weighted addition circuit which is operable to perform weighted addition on at least the input signal and a signal being time-shifted with respect to the input signal and output as a weighted added input signal; an arithmetic shift circuit which is operable to perform an arithmetic rightward shift operation on the weighted added input signal for a predetermined number of shifts and output as a processed input signal; a bit extension circuit which is operable to attach a predetermined bits to an LSD side of the input signal to generate an intermediate signal of M bits; and an addition circuit which is operable to perform addition of the intermediate signal and the processed input signal so as to generate the M-bit output signal.

10-14-2010

20100301358

Semiconductor Substrate, Electronic Device, Optical Device, and Production Methods Therefor - The present invention provides a method for producing a semiconductor substrate, the method including reacting nitrogen (N) with gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), or indium (In), which are group III elements, in a flux mixture containing a plurality of metal elements selected from among alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, to thereby grow a group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal. The group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal is grown while the flux mixture and the group III element are mixed under stirring. At least a portion of a base substrate on which the group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal is grown is formed of a flux-soluble material, and the flux-soluble material is dissolved in the flux mixture, at a temperature near the growth temperature of the group III nitride based compound semiconductor crystal, during the course of growth of the semiconductor crystal.

12-02-2010

20110012070

GROUP-III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL PRODUCING METHOD AND GROUP-III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL - A method for producing a high-quality group-III element nitride crystal at a high crystal growth rate, and a group-III element nitride crystal are provided. The method includes the steps of placing a group-III element, an alkali metal, and a seed crystal of group-III element nitride in a crystal growth vessel, pressurizing and heating the crystal growth vessel in an atmosphere of nitrogen-containing gas, and causing the group-III element and nitrogen to react with each other in a melt of the group-III element, the alkali metal and the nitrogen so that a group-III element nitride crystal is grown using the seed crystal as a nucleus. A hydrocarbon having a boiling point higher than the melting point of the alkali metal is added before the pressurization and heating of the crystal growth vessel.

01-20-2011

20110048115

METHOD FOR ANALYZING SAMPLE IN LIQUID - A method for analyzing a sample in a liquid is provided, which is suitable for easily and reliably preventing a liquid for analysis from being evaporated. When the sample in the liquid is observed by using a scanning probe microscope (SPM), a sealing liquid (

03-03-2011

20120003446

NITRIDE CRYSTAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - A nitride crystal which encircles an outer periphery of a seed crystal, the nitride crystal in an embodiment includes: a first partial region, and a second partial region that has optical characteristics different from those of the first partial region and has optical characteristics which indicate the crystal orientation.

01-05-2012

20120137961

METHOD FOR GROWING SINGLE CRYSTAL OF GROUP III METAL NITRIDE AND REACTION VESSEL FOR USE IN SAME - Materials of a nitride single crystal of a metal belonging to III group and a flux are contained in a crucible, which is contained in a reaction container, the reaction container is contained in an outer container, the outer container is contained in a pressure container, and nitrogen-containing atmosphere is supplied into the outer container and melt is generated in the crucible to grow a nitride single crystal of a metal belonging to III group. The reaction container includes a main body containing the crucible and a lid. The main body includes a side wall having a fitting face and a groove opening at the fitting face and a bottom wall. The lid has an upper plate part including a contact face for the fitting face of the main body and a flange part extending from the upper plate part and surrounding an outer side of said side wall.

06-07-2012

20120168695

GROUP-III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL PRODUCING METHOD AND GROUP-III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL - A method for producing a high-quality group-III element nitride crystal at a high crystal growth rate, and a group-III element nitride crystal are provided. The method includes the steps of placing a group-III element, an alkali metal, and a seed crystal of group-III element nitride in a crystal growth vessel, pressurizing and heating the crystal growth vessel in an atmosphere of nitrogen-containing gas, and causing the group-III element and nitrogen to react with each other in a melt of the group-III element, the alkali metal and the nitrogen so that a group-III element nitride crystal is grown using the seed crystal as a nucleus. A hydrocarbon having a boiling point higher than the melting point of the alkali metal is added before the pressurization and heating of the crystal growth vessel.

07-05-2012

20140030549

GROUP III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL PRODUCING METHOD AND GROUP-III ELEMENT NITRIDE CRYSTAL - A method for producing a high-quality group-III element nitride crystal at a high crystal growth rate, and a group-III element nitride crystal are provided. The method includes the steps of placing a group-III element, an alkali metal, and a seed crystal of group-III element nitride in a crystal growth vessel, pressurizing and heating the crystal growth vessel in an atmosphere of nitrogen-containing gas, and causing the group-III element and nitrogen to react with each other in a melt of the group-III element, the alkali metal and the nitrogen so that a group-III element nitride crystal is grown using the seed crystal as a nucleus. A hydrocarbon having a boiling point higher than the melting point of the alkali metal is added before the pressurization and heating of the crystal growth vessel.